Creators welcome European Parliament call for end to buyout contracts

Breadcrumb

A group of organisations representing European creators have given their support to an adopted European Parliament report calling for an end to buyout contracts.

The report, written by French MEP Jean-Marie Cavada, recognises that action needs to be taken to strengthen the position of authors in guaranteeing that they are remunerated in line with the success of their creative works. Cavada stated that it was “essential” that authors and performers remuneration was “fair and proportional to all forms of exploitation of their works”, and that such remuneration was incompatible with the commonly practised system of buyout contracts, whereby an author receives a lump sum fee up front and no further remuneration.

FERA (the Federation of European Film Directors) and SAA (Society of Audiovisual Authors), both of which Directors UK is a member of, were amongst the bodies lobbying for the adoption of the report, and offered their congratulations to the European Parliament on their decision earlier today.

Elisabeth Sjaastad, FERA: “Producers play an essential role and are the directors’ closest partners, but the widespread practice of unfair buyout contracts has to stop”.

Cécile Despringre, Executive Director, SAA added: “I hope the European Commission will hear these very clear recommendations. Screenwriters and directors need a properly enforceable unwaivable remuneration right for all uses of their works.”

Directors UK would like to add our support to the European Parliament for taking this decision. The organisations are now keenly waiting to see if the European Commission takes these recommendations on board in its follow-up report on its Green Paper consultation on the same subject.